Dr. Daniel McCarthy Named Director of Athletics
Posted on July 21, 2026
The University of South Alabama today announced the appointment of Dr. Daniel W. McCarthy as director of athletics, selecting a proven leader to guide South Alabama Athletics into its next chapter. McCarthy was named interim AD on June 1, following the retirement of Dr. Joel Erdmann.
McCarthy has served as deputy athletics director since 2017, helping advance strategic initiatives and enhance the student-athlete experience. He joined South Alabama Athletics in 2008 and has played a key role in the success of South’s athletics program.
“When we looked at the future of Jaguar Athletics, it became abundantly clear that the best person to lead us forward was already a member of the University of South Alabama family,” said USA President Jo Bonner. “The feedback we received from stakeholders confirmed that Dr. McCarthy’s dedication to our University and his exceptional impact at South make him uniquely qualified for this role.”
The high-profile opening generated significant national interest, resulting in direct outreach from numerous potential candidates or their representatives.
“The future of intercollegiate athletics demands thoughtful, experienced leadership,” said Dr. Andi Kent, executive vice president and provost. “President Bonner and I are confident Dr. McCarthy has the vision, relationships and expertise to navigate this changing landscape while ensuring our student-athletes continue to excel academically, athletically and personally. We are excited about the future of Jaguar Athletics under his leadership.”
As deputy athletics director, McCarthy oversaw South’s external operations while also providing oversight for the sports of football, baseball and softball, among others. He has supervised nearly every office in the athletics department at South and served as the primary liaison between athletics and other units on campus.
“This is truly the honor of a lifetime, and I couldn’t be more grateful for the opportunity. I want to thank President Jo Bonner, Executive Vice President and Provost Dr. Andi Kent, and the University of South Alabama Board of Trustees for their unwavering commitment to excellence and for the confidence they have placed in me to serve as the next Director of Athletics,” said McCarthy. “South Alabama is a special place with incredible people. Being a part of this University and this community for the past 18 years has been such a blessing for me and my family. I’m excited to lock arms with our coaches, staff, student-athletes, alumni, fans and friends as we pursue a bold and ambitious future. I invite every member of Jag Nation to put their J up and join us as we write this next chapter together.”
In June, the Sun Belt Conference announced that South Alabama Athletics had captured the Vic Bubas Cup for the 17th time, recognizing the conference’s top-performing athletics department across all sports. Four wins have occurred during McCarthy’s time as deputy athletics director. During McCarthy’s tenure, the Jaguars have also won 19 Sun Belt Conference Championships and secured 14 NCAA postseason appearances.
McCarthy also helped oversee more than $90 million in capital projects, including the construction of Hancock Whitney Stadium and the Jaguar Training Center. McCarthy’s efforts also extended into the classroom, with South Alabama producing more than 1,600 academic all-conference honorees and nine Academic All-Americans.
McCarthy previously served as assistant director of athletics at the University of Richmond and compliance coordinator at Mercer University. He earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Huntingdon College, a master’s degree in physical education and sports studies from the University of Georgia and a doctorate in educational leadership from the University of South Alabama. McCarthy is also a graduate of the University’s Leadership South and Leadership Fellows programs.
He and his wife, Amanda, are the parents to three children: Drew, Ella and Hannah. Drew and Ella are students at South.
